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Writer's pictureNguyễn Trung Kiên

How Rich Is Elon Musk? The Journey from a Challenging Childhood to Becoming One of the World's Wealthiest People

Elon Musk, a name synonymous with innovation and breakthrough, is known not only for his vast wealth but also for his relentless drive to change the world. How rich is Elon Musk? And where did his journey begin? This article not only answers questions about Elon Musk’s wealth but also tells an inspiring story of how he overcame numerous challenges from his childhood to reach the heights of success. It reflects the sustainable development philosophy that Trung Kiên Techdevinco always pursues.

How rich is Elon Musk? Did Elon Musk get rich overnight or has Elon Musk's fortune fluctuated over decades?

How Rich Is Elon Musk?

A Challenging Childhood and Early Career Steps

Elon Musk was born in 1971 in Pretoria, South Africa, into a financially comfortable family. His father, Errol Musk, was an engineer and real estate developer who owned a share in an emerald mine in Zambia, ensuring the family lived comfortably. But did this wealth help Elon become rich overnight? The answer is no. Although his family was financially well-off, Elon had to face family tensions and his father’s controlling nature. The relationship between Elon and his father was never easy. Errol Musk was known to be strict and difficult, often criticizing his son's decisions.

Elon’s mother, Maye Musk, on the other hand, was a source of inspiration for him. She was a well-known model and a nutritionist. After her divorce from Elon’s father, Maye raised three children, including Elon, on her own. She became a symbol of resilience and independence—traits Elon carried with him throughout his life.

Elon's childhood was anything but easy. He was frequently bullied at school, and once, he was beaten so badly that he lost consciousness and had to be hospitalized. These painful childhood experiences left a lasting impact on him. Instead of succumbing to adversity, Elon turned to books and computers to escape reality. From reading science fiction, he began nurturing his dream of a new world where technology could change everything.

At just 12 years old, Elon taught himself how to program and developed his first video game called Blastar, which he sold for $500. This small but significant achievement marked the beginning of Elon’s realization that technology could be the key to turning dreams into reality.

 

Family and Elon Musk's Personal Life

Today, Elon Musk is the father of 11 children. Despite his hectic work schedule, he makes an effort to spend time with his family. Elon has five children with his first wife, Justine Musk, including Griffin, Vivian Jenna Wilson, Kai, Saxon, and Damian. Vivian, one of his children, transitioned and changed her last name to Wilson, choosing to distance herself from Elon’s last name.

Elon and Justine’s first child, Nevada Alexander Musk, tragically passed away at only 10 weeks old from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). This loss was a profound tragedy for Elon, one he carries with him throughout his journey.

Elon also has two children with the singer Grimes, named X Æ A-Xii and Exa Dark Sideræl Musk, along with two twins born in 2021 with Shivon Zilis, a Neuralink executive. Despite the complexities of his family life, each of Elon’s children serves as a source of motivation, helping him push through the challenges in his work.

 

Education and Early Career: From Zero to Success

How rich is Elon Musk? The massive fortune that Elon holds today didn’t come from luck or inheritance. Did Elon Musk get rich overnight? Absolutely not. His journey to becoming a billionaire is filled with failures, difficulties, and unmatched persistence.

After leaving South Africa, Elon moved to Canada to attend Queen's University, later transferring to the University of Pennsylvania, where he graduated with degrees in economics and physics. Just two days after enrolling in Stanford University's Ph.D. program, Elon dropped out to pursue his dream of entrepreneurship.

Elon’s first company, Zip2, was founded alongside his brother Kimbal Musk. At the time, they couldn’t afford to rent an apartment and had to sleep on the office floor, working tirelessly to develop their product. By 1999, Zip2 was acquired by Compaq for $305 million, earning Elon his first significant wealth—$22 million—which was a major stepping stone for his future ventures.

 

Elon Musk's Wealth: Turning Point with PayPal, SpaceX, and Tesla

After Zip2, Elon founded X.com, an online payment platform that later became PayPal. PayPal revolutionized how people conduct transactions online. In 2002, eBay bought PayPal for $1.5 billion, and Elon walked away with $165 million.

But instead of settling into a comfortable life of luxury, Elon invested all of this money into two high-risk ventures: SpaceX and Tesla. SpaceX was Elon’s audacious space project aimed at taking humanity to Mars and establishing a multi-planetary civilization. In the early years, SpaceX faced three consecutive failed rocket launches, nearly bankrupting the company. But the fourth launch succeeded, marking a new era in space exploration.

Tesla, the electric car company that Elon joined in 2004, also encountered severe financial struggles. Tesla came close to bankruptcy several times. But Elon never gave up. With his vision for clean energy and relentless determination, Tesla grew and eventually became a symbol of the global electric vehicle revolution.

 

Elon Musk's Future Projects: Neuralink and The Boring Company

Elon’s success doesn’t stop with Tesla and SpaceX. He also founded Neuralink, a company with the goal of connecting the human brain to computers, unlocking tremendous potential in medicine and brain science. Through The Boring Company, Elon aims to solve urban transportation issues by developing underground tunnels and high-speed transit systems.

 

Lessons from Elon Musk’s Journey and Value for Readers

Elon Musk’s story is not just about wealth or personal success. It is a lesson in perseverance, resilience, and long-term vision. How rich is Elon Musk? His fortune didn’t come from luck or inheritance but from making bold decisions, not fearing failure, and always pursuing big dreams.

For everyone, the biggest lesson from Elon’s journey is: Never give up, no matter how difficult the path is. Success doesn’t happen overnight but is the result of persistence, courage, and a willingness to face risks. Trung Kiên Techdevinco also follows this philosophy in every step of its growth. We are always searching for new, innovative solutions to create lasting value for our clients.

 

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